Microsoft makes it official: New beta of Windows Intune 2.0 available for download

Microsoft is making a beta of the next release of its Windows Intune available for download on July 11, officials announced during the Worldwide Partner Conference 2011.

As some of my contacts told me last week, the new version of Windows Intune includes support for third-party patching. It also includes the ability to perform remote IT tasks, and read-only access to the administration console.

The final release of Windows Intune next is going to be later this year, officials also said today. Existing Windows Intune customers will receive the coming Windows Intune version without any migration necessary, according to Microsoft execs.

With the coming release of Windows Intune, "administrators can deploy most Microsoft and third-party updates or software applications to PCs virtually anywhere, without the need for a server infrastructure or physically touching each PC to install the software or update," officials said today in a blog post about the coming release.

Windows Intune is one of Microsoft’s cloud services that provides IT pros with PC management and security for $11 per seat per month. There are two components to Windows Intune 1.0 (which was codenamed “Florida”): On-premises Windows and Windows management tools, plus an online management and security service. Windows Intune evolved from a Microsoft project known as System Center Online Desktop Manager (SCODM).

Microsoft released version 1 of Windows Intune in March 2011. It manages and secures Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 PCs. Windows Intune works over the cloud like Windows Update and Microsoft Update, but users don’t need on-site infrastructure, as updates are delivered directly to any of their managed PCs that have an Internet connection, Microsoft officials have said.

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